Combination baffled weep and pressure equalization slot



M 21, 1963 P. M. SMITH, JR v 3,333,315

- COMBINATION BAFFLED WEEP AND PRESSURE EQUALIZATION SLOT Filed Feb. 17, 1966 K'IIIIIII II Ill/I lllj/ III/l/l/ United States Patent 3,383,815 COMBINATHGN RAFFLE!) WEE? AND PRESSURE EQUALIZATION SLOT Perry M. Smith, In, Wood Dale, Ill., assignor to The Ceco Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 528,253 2 Qiaims. (Cl. 52-209) ABSTRACT 6F THE DXSCLQSURE A combination baffled weep and pressure equalization slot for use in a sill channel of a window or other closure where an elongated groove is formed in the exterior wall of the sill chann l member having upper and lower inclined walls and a connecting wall intersecting the connecting web of the sill channel member. One or more elongated slots or openings are formed in the upper inclined wall of the groove adjacent the connecting web of the channel member to allow discharge of collected water from the interior of the channel, and a bathe depends from and is an extension of the exterior wall of the channel member to cover the upper portion of the groove and direct water cascading down the window or closure away from the slots or openings.

The present invention relates to an improved window sill construction and more particularly to a window sill having a combination bafiied Weep and pressure equalization slot to prevent water leakage to the inside of a building during rainstorrns although applicable to other closures.

In a window of conventional construction, there exists, under the influence of wind, a pressure differential between the exterior and the interior of the closed window, the outside pressure being greater on the windward side of the building. Where water cascades down the window such as in a rainstorm, the pressure differential will draw water through the existing or conventional relatively small weep holes into the window sill channel, and some water usually penetrates the outside seal between the window and the sill channel and enters the latter. Unless this water can return through the weep holes to the exterior of the building, it will continue to collect in the sill or bottom channel until it reaches a level above the inside seal and result in water leakage to the building interior. The present invention obviates this problem by providing an improved combination baffled weep and pressure equalization slot.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a window or closure construction having a sill channel with a novel bafiied weep slot to allow the pressure in the sfll or bottom channel to equalize with the exterior pressure, and any water collecting in the sill channel clue to leakage past the outside seal builds up until the static head overcomes surface tension and the almost non-existent pressure differential at which time it discharges to the outside.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a window construction or closure having novel baffle means at the exterior of the sill channel which includes an inwardly formed channel or elongated groove and a depending battle member extending downwardly over a substantial portion of the channel or groove to prevent water from coming into direct contact with the weep slot; the slot communicating with the channel.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a combination baffled weep and pressure equalization slot in a sill channel which is easily adaptable to various types of window construction, such as a projected ice window, top hinged inswinging window, pivoted window, and pivoted window with hopper.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partial vertical cross sectional View of a conventional window or closure sill construction having a conventional weep hole.

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a window or closure sill construction having the novel combination of baflled weep and pressure equalization slot of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical cross sectional view of a wall section with a projected window installed and the novel combination battled weep and pressure equalization slot utilized therein.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary or partial perspective view of the novel combination baffled weep and pressure equalization slot of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a window sill construction of a pivoted window with the sill channel and baffled weep and pressure equalization slot shown in vertical cross section.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary or partial vertical cross sectional view of a pivoted window with a hopper ventilator similar to FIG. 5 showing the sill channels of both the window and hopper provided with the bathed weep and pressure equalization slots.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing wherein is shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a conventional window sill construction having a sill channel 10 for a window in a frame 11. The extruded sill channel includes an exterior wall or flanged portion 12 and an interior wall or flanged portion 13 of less height than the outer wall, the walls being joined together by a horizontal or web portion 14. One or more weep holes 15 are provided in and spaced along the wall 12 immediately above the horizontal portion 14. The frame 11 has an exterior wall or flange 16 containing an outside seal 17 and an inside flange 18 having an inside seal 19 therein, the flanges 16 and 18 being joined by a horizontal or web portion 21.

A pressure P exists at the exterior of the window and a pressure P exists at the interior; and a pressure P exists in the void formed between the sill channel 10 and the rame 11 when the window is closed. A pressure differential exists between the outside pressure P and the inside pressure P with the outside pressure being greater than the inside pressure on the windward side of a building and smaller on the leeward side. This invention is concerned with the situation where the pressure P is greater than the pressure P In FIG. 1, when it is raining on the windward side of the building, the water cascades down the outside face of the window flowing over the conventional weep holes 15. The pressure P,, will be intermediate the pressure P and P with the actual amount of pressure P depending on the size of the weep holes .15 and the effectiveness of the outside and inside seals 17 and 19, respectively. In view of the pressure differential between P and P at least some of the water running down the outside face of the window will be drawn through the weep holes into the sill channel 10. In addition, some of the rain water running down the outside face of the window will penetrate the outside seal 17 and collect in the sill channel 10.

Unless this water can return to the exterior through the conventional weep holes 15, it will continue to collect in the sill channel 10 until it reaches a level above the inside seal 19, which, for conventional window construction, would permit leakage of water to the interior of the building. Depending on the ratio of water entry into the sill channel and on the pressure differential between P and P.,, increasing the size of the weep holes has resulted in prevention of such leakage. However, increasing the Weep hole size is only effective up to a certain point because of the fact that the weep holes are directly exposed to the water cascading or running down the outside face of the window.

The improvement of the present invention relates to an improved sill construction shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Here a sill channel 10 for a Window frame 11 includes an exterior wall 12 an interior wall 13 and a horizontal or web portion 14*; and an effective inside seal 19. An elongated outwardly opening groove or channel 22 is formed in the exterior wall 12 with the channel having an inwardly and downwardly slanting upper wall 23, an outwardly and downwardly slanting lower wall portion 24 and a generally vertical wall portion 25 joining the walls portion 23 and 24 and also intersecting the horizontal or web portion 14* of the sill channel 10 An elongated bafile 26 extends downwardly to overlie and cover a substantial portion of each groove or channel 22; with the baflle being an extension of the exterior wall 12 Both the groove or channel 221 and the batlle 26 extend the entire length of the sill channel 10.

The sill channel 10 including the groove or channel 22 and the baffle 26 may be easily and readily extruded of aluminum or other suitable materials. Formed in the upper slanted or inclined wall 23 of the groove or channel 22 are one or more elongated weep slots 27 of substantially greater area and discharge capacity than the conventional weep holes 15. These elongated slots 27 open downwardly and outwardly with the lower end of the bafile 26 of each sill channel projecting therebeyond.

The use of the large weep slots 27 is to allow the pressure P in the void of the channel 10 to build up to an amount equal to the outside pressure P so that there is substantially no pressure differential tending to draw water into the sill channel through the slot 27. The baffle 26 further directs water away from the weep slots and prevents Water which is cascading down the side or exterior of the building and the outside face of the window from coming in direct contact with the weep slot 27. Due to this protective baffle, a pressure differential would be required to force water running down along and over the baffle to change its direction of fiow to uphill through the weep slot into the channel, and such pressure differential does not exist.

In addition, any water which penetrates the outside seal 17 collects in the sill channel 10 until its static head is sufiicient to overcome surface tension and the nonexistent pressure differential between P and P at which time, it easily discharges to the outside. Due to the large area or size of each weep slot, considerable quantities of water may conceivably penetrate the outside seal and still drain readily through the weep slot to the exterior.

FIG. 3 discloses a window installation utilizing the sill channel It) where the channel is provided below a window or hopper 29 having a frame 31 associated with a projected window 32. There is no leakage problem between the frame 33 of window 32 and the frame 31 as the frame 33 overlaps frame 31. However, leakage can occur between the lower edge 34 of frame 31 and the sill channel 16. Therefore, the baflle 26 and weep slot 27 are provided for the weeping and discharge of any water collected in the sill channel 19*.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the sill channel 10 modified for a pivoted window frame 35 having spaced depending sealing strips 36 secured to the lower edge 37 of the frame 35. The sill channel 10* has been modified to provide inwardly extending flanges 38 and 39 on the outside wall 12 and the inside wall 13, respectively; the spaced sealing strips 36 having a wiping and sealing contact with the flanges 38 and 39 to seal the window in closed position in the frame. Here any leakage would occur between the outside strip 3% and the flange 38 for water to enter the sill channel 1% FIG. 6 discloses the use of a pair of sill channels it) and 19* for a pivoted Window frame 35 and an inwardly pivoted hopper 41 therebelow. The pivoted frame is identical with that shown in FIG. 5 including the spaced sealing strips 36 have wiping and sealing contact with the flanges 33 and 39 of the upper sill channel 16 and the hopper 41 is shown with the lower sill channel 10 identical to that shown in FTGS. 2 to 4.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the improved sill channel construction having the elongated weep slots and overlying battle has great versatility and can be applied equally well to substantially any window type or closure. While not shown, it is evident the principle of this invention is not restricted to windows, but would apply as well to doors, louvers and similar closures simultaneously subjected to water on one side and a pressure differential across the closure tending to cause water penetration or water leakage.

Having disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A weep and pressure equalization system for the sill of a window or other closure, comprising a sill channel member having inside and outside Walls and a connecting web, an outwardly opening elongated groove formed in said outside wall and including upper and lower inwardly inclined walls and a connecting wall, said upper inclined wall intersecting the connecting web of the sill channel member and having at least one weep opening therein adjacent the connecting web and communicating with the interior of the sill channel member to allow equalization of pressure on the exterior of and within the sill channel member, and an elongated bafile depending from and an extension of the outside wall of the sill channel member and overlying a substantial portion of said groove.

2. A weep and pressure equalization system as set forth in claim 1, in which said weep opening is an elongated generally rectangular slot to equalize pressure and allow discharge of liquid collected in said sill channel member.

References Cited UNITED ST TES PATENTS 2,811,754 11/1957 Toth 49-390 X 3,314,201 4/1967 Reigelman 52209 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,111,798 7/1961 Germany.

98,042 5/1961 Netherlands. 325,367 12/1957 Switzerland.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner. 

